Left Wing Extremism: NIA raids 60 locations in Andhra, Telangana; civil liberties activists under scanner
In Hyderabad, raids were conducted in the residences of several leaders of civil rights sympathizers who are suspected of having links with Naxal sympathizers
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 2 Oct 2023 6:28 AM GMTRepresentational Image
Hyderabad: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted raids at more than 60 locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in connection with the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) case.
Separate NIA teams started conducting raids in close coordination with state police forces.
According to the sources, searches are conducted in Guntur, Tirupati, Hyderabad, and Nellore districts. In Hyderabad, raids were conducted in the residences of several leaders of civil rights sympathizers who are suspected of having links with Naxal sympathizers.
Sources said there are reports that recruitment drives are being conducted s for the youth to join the Maoist groups.
Raids are being conducted on civil liberties leader D Suresh in Vidyanagar, Member of āAmarula Bandhu Mitrulu Sanghamā Lawyer Bhavani in Alwal, ABMS leaders Shantakka in Warrangal, Dhankalakshmi in Srikakulam, IAPL national leader and advocate Suresh, Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) leader Yellanki Vekateswarulu, Advocate Kranth Chaitanya and few more.
Earlier on September 9, NIA also conducted a series of raids and searches in Telangana and Chhattisgarh in connection with an August 2023 case involving the recovery of explosive materials, drones, and a Lathe machine involving the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) for use against security forces.
NIA had registered the case against 12 accused after the explosive materials, drones, and a Lathe machine were seized from three of them in June in Cherla mandal of Kothagudem.
The raids are still underway at the premises and hideouts of suspects in both the states.